Light echoes from SN 1987A

This image, taken with NTT and EMMI in January 1992, shows light echoes from supernova SN 1987A. The light echoes are seen as two concentric rings on the interstellar matter around the exploded star. Since the outburst of SN 1987A, light echoes have been used as an efficient way of studying the structure of the interstellar medium close to the supernova. SN 1987A, detected in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, was the closest explosion of this kind for several centuries, the first visible by naked-eye for 383 years and definitely an event of the greatest relevance in modern astronomy. ESO telescopes have been observing this object for more than twenty years.

More information in ESO Messenger 67, p37: http://www.eso.org/sci/publications/messenger/archive/no.67-mar92/messenger-no67.pdf

Crediti:

ESO

Riguardo l'immagine

Identificazione:12_sn-1987a_cc
Tipo:Osservazione
Data di rilascio:Venerdì 12 Marzo 2010 18:51
Grandezza:2856 x 2770 px

Riguardo all'oggetto

Nome:SN 1987A
Tipo:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Distanza:170000 Anni luce
Categoria:Stars

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Colori e filtri

BandaTelescopio
OtticoNew Technology Telescope
EMMI